title: Percutaneous fasciotomies and fat grafting: indications for breast surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of breast deformities can be very difficult in the presence of breast shape retraction. Percutaneous fasciotomies, which release fibrous strings, can be a very useful tool for shape improvement in the recipient site for a fat graft.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors evaluate the efficacy of fasciotomies in association with fat grafting in breast surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted for 1000 patients treated with concurrent fasciotomies and fat grafting between January 2006 and December 2011. The recipient site was prepared with fasciotomies, and fat was harvested from other parts of the body using a low-pressure 10-mL syringe lipoaspiration system. Fat was centrifuged and injected into the breast for reconstruction or chest deformities. The postoperative appearance of the breast scars was scored by both the surgeon and the patient. Each complication was recorded, including instances of hematoma, infection, tissue wounds, scar healing, and fat necrosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this series of patients, for whom the primary indications for the procedure were sequelae of breast-conserving surgery after cancer, latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction, breast implant reconstruction, tuberous breast, Poland syndrome, and funnel chest, we recorded the following complications: 0.8% local infections (8/1000), 0.1% delayed wound healing that required medical care (1/1000), and 3% fat necrosis (31/1000). Fasciotomy scarring was considered minor by the patient in 98.5% of cases and by the surgeon in 99% of cases at 1 year postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fat grafting is a safe and reliable technique that improves the aesthetic outcomes of breast surgery. Percutaneous fasciotomies provide excellent aesthetic results and an improvement in breast shape with no scarring. In our experience, both fat grafting and fasciotomies offer a durable result over the long term.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre Régional Léon Bérard, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho Quoc
authors.forename: Raphaël
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinna
authors.forename: Azouz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gourari
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: La Marca
authors.forename: Gilles
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toussoun
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delay
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000637:transplantation*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D004954:Esthetics; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: breast deformities; breast reconstruction; fat grafting; lipomodeling; percutaneous fasciotomies; tuberous breast